Related Links

Group applies to open first charter school

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.

A group of Davidson County residents, including one of the founders of a private school that closed in 2009, intend to open the county's first charter school in August 2014.

Facts

Board members representing Davidson Academy, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Lexington, plan to use state, local and federal funding streams to Davidson County's three school systems to operate the academy, according to the group's charter school application released Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of groups have applied to open new schools since the General Assembly lifted a cap on charters in 2011. About 70 groups filed applications with the state by March 1, for the cycle of schools set to open for the 2014-15 school year.

The Davidson Charter Academy would initially serve 216 students in grades K-5, with an additional grade being added each subsequent year. The academy would serve about 400 students by its fourth year, according to the application.

The academy will not target a specific population, as some of the state's 107 existing charters do, but rather "attempt to reach a demographic balance similar to that which currently exists within Davidson County," according to the application.

Several board members, including Lexington resident and board president Jane Whitehurst, chose not to formally comment about the application Wednesday. However, the board did issue a press release announcing it had submitted the application.

The board members said they wanted to open the school because they saw a need for more options in local education, since so many Davidson County students are home-schooled or attend private schools outside the county, according to the release.

"Since about half the counties in the state are without a charter, we were especially happy to work with the Davidson County group in their quest for a new school," Eddie Goodall, executive director of the N.C. Public Charter Schools Association, said in a statement. "We hope the charter, if approved, will provide parents an option they otherwise would not have had."

About 1,657 Davidson County students were home-schooled during the 2011-12 school year, according to statistics compiled by the N.C. Department of Administration. Additionally, about 882 Davidson County students go to private schools elsewhere while about 32 students attend charter schools in other areas, according to the department of administration.

Davidson County hasn't always lacked alternatives to public schools.

Whitehurst and her husband, Bill, helped found Davidson Academy in 1997, a private school that downsized, then closed, after accruing millions in debt on its school building on West Center Street Extension, which Davidson County government eventually bought. Davidson Academy, which changed its name to Davidson Country Day School toward the end of its tenure, offered programs for children in preschool through the eighth grade.

Erin Steenwyk, a Lexington resident serving as board chairwoman, said in an email the board was excited the application was submitted but declined to comment further. Steenwyk, a former middle school teacher and yearbook sales representative, works as a home-school teacher.

All applications for schools hoping to open by 2014 will be reviewed by the Public Charter School Advisory Council in coming months. The council will make recommendations to the North Carolina State Board of Education, which has the authority to grant preliminary approval.

Last year, the State Board of Education granted preliminary approval to 25 charter applicants hoping to open for the 2013-14 school year. All but one of those schools received final approval by the board this week, according to state records.

Davidson Charter Academy plans to use about $1.5 million in state, local and federal funding allocations to Davidson County Schools, Lexington City Schools and Thomasville City Schools in its first year of operation. The board has about $242,300 in working capital, according to the application.

Total expenditures are expected to be about $1.37 million in the first year.

"We anticipate a frugal financial plan in years one and two while still offering Davidson County students a high quality education," according to the application. "While we anticipate 216 students, we have built in a $150,000 contingency reserve for under-enrollment and a $48,000 contingency reserve for under-budgeting."

Davidson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Fred Mock said the system received the application. He said he will present the application to the school board and the board's legal counsel.

It's not entirely clear where the academy would be located; however, board representatives were expected to tour the American Children's Home in Lexington this week as a possible location for the first year, according to the application.

The board has also met with Scott Flowers, of Hickory Construction, regarding the construction of a new facility. In year three, the board plans on building a 36,000-square-foot facility, including a gymnasium, at a cost of about $4 million. The board would finance the facility over 20 years, according to the application.

The board said it does not think it will have a problem recruiting students for the new school.

In fact, the board conducted a online survey of a "random sampling of Davidson County residents" in early 2013, which found that 95 percent of those surveyed would consider sending their children to a charter school, according to an exhibit connected to the application.

Davidson Charter Academy would utilize the Core Knowledge Sequence, a curriculum designed specifically for grades K-8 that revolves around the idea "knowledge builds on knowledge." The program will be used in alignment with the N.C. Standard Course of Study, including the Common Core State Standards and the N.C. Essential Standards, according to the press release.

The academy will also provide enrichment activities, including Spanish, music, art and physical education, beginning in kindergarten.

The board would hire about 20 staff members the first year, including one lead administrator, one assistant administrator and 12 core content teachers, according to the application.

All groups intending to open new charter schools were required to submit letters of intent by Jan. 4, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. No letter of intent was submitted by Davidson Academy, Inc., for Davidson Charter Academy.

A letter of intent was submitted for "The Bastiat School," which was proposed for Davidson County. That letter was filed by Anthony Rodriguez, the director of advocacy for the N.C. Public Charter Schools Association.

"The Bastiat School was used as a placeholder for what has now become Davidson Charter Academy," Rodriguez said in an email Thursday. "I am no longer associated with the application."

Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.

<p>A group of Davidson County residents, including one of the founders of a private school that closed in 2009, intend to open the county's first charter school in August 2014.</p><p>Board members representing Davidson Academy, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Lexington, plan to use state, local and federal funding streams to Davidson County's three school systems to operate the academy, according to the group's charter school application released Wednesday afternoon.</p><p>Hundreds of groups have applied to open new schools since the General Assembly lifted a cap on charters in 2011. About 70 groups filed applications with the state by March 1, for the cycle of schools set to open for the 2014-15 school year.</p><p>The Davidson Charter Academy would initially serve 216 students in grades K-5, with an additional grade being added each subsequent year. The academy would serve about 400 students by its fourth year, according to the application.</p><p>The academy will not target a specific population, as some of the state's 107 existing charters do, but rather "attempt to reach a demographic balance similar to that which currently exists within Davidson County," according to the application.</p><p>Several board members, including Lexington resident and board president Jane Whitehurst, chose not to formally comment about the application Wednesday. However, the board did issue a press release announcing it had submitted the application.</p><p>The board members said they wanted to open the school because they saw a need for more options in local education, since so many Davidson County students are home-schooled or attend private schools outside the county, according to the release.</p><p>"Since about half the counties in the state are without a charter, we were especially happy to work with the Davidson County group in their quest for a new school," Eddie Goodall, executive director of the N.C. Public Charter Schools Association, said in a statement. "We hope the charter, if approved, will provide parents an option they otherwise would not have had."</p><p>About 1,657 Davidson County students were home-schooled during the 2011-12 school year, according to statistics compiled by the N.C. Department of Administration. Additionally, about 882 Davidson County students go to private schools elsewhere while about 32 students attend charter schools in other areas, according to the department of administration.</p><p>Davidson County hasn't always lacked alternatives to public schools.</p><p>Whitehurst and her husband, Bill, helped found Davidson Academy in 1997, a private school that downsized, then closed, after accruing millions in debt on its school building on West Center Street Extension, which Davidson County government eventually bought. Davidson Academy, which changed its name to Davidson Country Day School toward the end of its tenure, offered programs for children in preschool through the eighth grade.</p><p>Erin Steenwyk, a Lexington resident serving as board chairwoman, said in an email the board was excited the application was submitted but declined to comment further. Steenwyk, a former middle school teacher and yearbook sales representative, works as a home-school teacher.</p><p>Other board members are small business owner Adam Sewell, adjunct instructor Mary Sewell, pharmacist Dr. Michael Rinaggio, wellness coordinator Tracy Hensley, certified public accountant Charles Taylor, therapy assistant Wendy Gleason and home-school teacher Lisa Hathaway, according to the application.</p><p>All applications for schools hoping to open by 2014 will be reviewed by the Public Charter School Advisory Council in coming months. The council will make recommendations to the North Carolina State Board of Education, which has the authority to grant preliminary approval.</p><p>Last year, the State Board of Education granted preliminary approval to 25 charter applicants hoping to open for the 2013-14 school year. All but one of those schools received final approval by the board this week, according to state records.</p><p>Charter schools are tax-funded schools allowed to operate with fewer regulations.</p><p>Davidson Charter Academy plans to use about $1.5 million in state, local and federal funding allocations to Davidson County Schools, Lexington City Schools and Thomasville City Schools in its first year of operation. The board has about $242,300 in working capital, according to the application.</p><p>Total expenditures are expected to be about $1.37 million in the first year.</p><p>"We anticipate a frugal financial plan in years one and two while still offering Davidson County students a high quality education," according to the application. "While we anticipate 216 students, we have built in a $150,000 contingency reserve for under-enrollment and a $48,000 contingency reserve for under-budgeting."</p><p>Davidson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Fred Mock said the system received the application. He said he will present the application to the school board and the board's legal counsel.</p><p>It's not entirely clear where the academy would be located; however, board representatives were expected to tour the American Children's Home in Lexington this week as a possible location for the first year, according to the application.</p><p>The board has also met with Scott Flowers, of Hickory Construction, regarding the construction of a new facility. In year three, the board plans on building a 36,000-square-foot facility, including a gymnasium, at a cost of about $4 million. The board would finance the facility over 20 years, according to the application.</p><p>The board said it does not think it will have a problem recruiting students for the new school. </p><p>In fact, the board conducted a online survey of a "random sampling of Davidson County residents" in early 2013, which found that 95 percent of those surveyed would consider sending their children to a charter school, according to an exhibit connected to the application.</p><p>Davidson Charter Academy would utilize the Core Knowledge Sequence, a curriculum designed specifically for grades K-8 that revolves around the idea "knowledge builds on knowledge." The program will be used in alignment with the N.C. Standard Course of Study, including the Common Core State Standards and the N.C. Essential Standards, according to the press release. </p><p>The academy will also provide enrichment activities, including Spanish, music, art and physical education, beginning in kindergarten.</p><p>The board would hire about 20 staff members the first year, including one lead administrator, one assistant administrator and 12 core content teachers, according to the application.</p><p>All groups intending to open new charter schools were required to submit letters of intent by Jan. 4, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. No letter of intent was submitted by Davidson Academy, Inc., for Davidson Charter Academy.</p><p>A letter of intent was submitted for "The Bastiat School," which was proposed for Davidson County. That letter was filed by Anthony Rodriguez, the director of advocacy for the N.C. Public Charter Schools Association.</p><p>"The Bastiat School was used as a placeholder for what has now become Davidson Charter Academy," Rodriguez said in an email Thursday. "I am no longer associated with the application."</p><p>Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.</p>